Bluffton University Acceptance Rate & Tuition (2026)
Bluffton University is a private research university in Bluffton, Ohio, enrolling about 582 students. Admission is moderately selective for first-time degree-seeking undergraduates reporting admissions data to the Education Department. The acceptance rate is about 67.23% in the latest College Scorecard admissions data. Median earnings about ten years after entry reach about $49,547 among students who received federal aid.
Key Facts
- 2024 Undergraduate Tuition: $37,362
- 2024 Average Net Price: $19,943 After Financial Aid
- 2024 Acceptance Rate: 67.23% Moderate Selectivity
- 2024 Enrolled Students: 582 98.8% Full-Time
- 2024 Graduation Rate: 52.94%
- Carnegie Classification: Special Focus Four-Year: Faith-Related Institutions
- First-Generation Students: 32.7%
- Tuition trend: In-state tuition increase of 2.2% from 2022 to 2023 (College Scorecard).
- Net price trend: Average net price decrease of 17.9% from 2022 to 2023 (College Scorecard).
- Full-Time Faculty: 51.1%
- Average SAT Score: 976
- Undergraduate Enrollment: 624
- Applicants (IPEDS): 2,873
- Room & Board: $12,220 annual estimate
Bluffton University: what the data shows
Common questions about Bluffton University, answered from College Scorecard and IPEDS in this repository.
Where is Bluffton University?
Bluffton University is located in Bluffton, OH (ZIP 45817-2104).
Is Bluffton University public or private?
Bluffton University is a Private Non-profit institution.
How much does Bluffton University cost?
Published tuition: $37,362.
Average net price after aid: $19,943.
| Family income band | Avg. net price |
|---|---|
| Family income $0–$30,000 | $16,363 |
| $30,001–$48,000 | $16,689 |
| $48,001–$75,000 | $18,469 |
| $75,001–$110,000 | $21,233 |
| $110,001+ | $26,321 |
Sticker tuition × four years (estimate, no room/board): $149,448.
How hard is it to get into Bluffton University?
Admission rate: 67.23%.
Among enrollees who submitted scores: average SAT 976.
Scorecard does not publish admitted-student GPA for most institutions.
How big is Bluffton University?
Total enrollment: 582 students.
Undergraduate enrollment: 624 students.
Graduate enrollment: 63 students.
About 99% enroll full-time in our extract.
What is the graduation rate at Bluffton University?
150%-time completion rate: 52.94%.
First-year retention: 59.6%.
What do graduates of Bluffton University earn?
Median earnings: $41,940 six years after entry; $49,547 ten years after entry (College Scorecard).
How much debt do students have?
Median federal loan debt among completers: $27,000.
44.68% of students receive Pell grants.
What is Bluffton University known for?
Largest IPEDS program completions at this institution:
- Education, General (37 completions)
- Business Administration and Management, General (21 completions)
- Elementary Education and Teaching (14 completions)
- Sport and Fitness Administration/Management (14 completions)
- Accounting (7 completions)
- Special Education and Teaching, General (6 completions)
- Psychology, General (6 completions)
- Foods, Nutrition, and Wellness Studies, General (5 completions)
- Biology/Biological Sciences, General (5 completions)
- Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness, General (5 completions)
See ROI & Programs for more.
Is Bluffton University a good school?
We do not score schools on opinion. Federal data in our extract show admission rate 67.23%; completion rate 52.94%; median earnings $49,547 at 10 years; net price $19,943. Compare these figures to your cost, aid, and career goals.
Tuition & Cost
Tuition Costs
$37,362
2024 Undergraduate Tuition
In 2024, the cost of tuition at Bluffton University was $37,362.
Tuition comparison with similar institutions.
Average Net Price
$19,943
2024 Value
In 2024 Bluffton University had an average net price — the price paid after factoring in grants and loans — of $19,943.
Average net price comparison with similar institutions.
Total Cost of Attendance
$79,772 Estimated 4-Year Total Cost
$19,943 Average Annual Net Price (after aid)
$149,448 4-Year Tuition
$12,220 Room & Board (annual, on-campus estimate)
$1,600 Books & Supplies (annual estimate)
$51,182 Estimated Annual Sticker (tuition + room/board + books)
$204,728 Estimated 4-Year Sticker (before aid)
4-year total cost breakdown for Bluffton University.
Financial Aid by Income Level
44.68% Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid through Grants
76.58% Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid through Loans
Financial aid distribution by income level.
Student Loan Default Rate
0.00%
3-year cohort default rate (College Scorecard)
The published 3-year cohort default rate for borrowers at Bluffton University was 0.00%.
Cohort default rates account for borrowers who default in the first three years.
Tuition tracker
Published tuition and average net price by reporting year come from the College Scorecard institution file. Values are not adjusted for inflation; missing cells mean the field was not reported or was suppressed for Bluffton University in that year.
Reporting years in the table below: 2013–2023 (Scorecard labels refer to the institutional submission cycle).
| Year | In-state tuition & fees | Out-of-state tuition & fees | Average net price |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | $28,504 | $28,504 | $21,353 |
| 2014 | $29,316 | $29,316 | $21,774 |
| 2015 | $30,168 | $30,168 | $21,160 |
| 2016 | $30,762 | $30,762 | $25,117 |
| 2017 | $31,672 | $31,672 | $24,452 |
| 2018 | $32,766 | $32,766 | $26,087 |
| 2019 | $33,736 | $33,736 | $26,069 |
| 2020 | $34,502 | $34,502 | $23,407 |
| 2021 | $34,502 | $34,502 | $23,721 |
| 2022 | $35,516 | $35,516 | $21,231 |
| 2023 | $36,298 | $36,298 | $17,430 |
Sticker tuition and net price over time
Where the institution reported separate in-state and out-of-state tuition, both appear. Gaps mean the value was not reported for that year.
College Scorecard reporting-year fields (not inflation-adjusted).
Net price by family income
Brackets follow Scorecard definitions for the series shown (public vs private institution).
Latest income-band net prices available in the processed extract.
Acceptance Rate & Admissions
Acceptance Rate
67.23% Acceptance Rate
2,873 Total Applicants
1,757 Students Admitted
190 First-Time Students Enrolled
10.81% Yield (enrolled ÷ admitted)
This institution has a moderate acceptance rate, accepting most qualified applicants.
Acceptance rate compared to national average.
Test Scores
SAT Average: 976
Average SAT and ACT scores for admitted students.
Academic Requirements
Estimated GPA Range: 3.0 - 3.4
Estimated Median GPA: 3.20
Note: GPA requirements are estimated based on admission selectivity and test scores. Actual requirements may vary.
Estimated GPA and test score ranges.
Enrollment & Student Demographics
Bluffton University reported total enrollment of about 582 students in the latest College Scorecard extract. The student body is about 58% male and 42% female. Enrollment by race and ethnicity includes White (62.5%), Black or African American (18.9%), and Race/ethnicity unknown (9.4%). About 44.68% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants. Roughly 32.7% of students are first-generation college students.
Full-Time vs Part-Time Enrollment
98.8% Full-Time Enrollment
The total enrollment at Bluffton University in 2024 is 582 students.
Undergraduate enrollment is about 624 students. Graduate enrollment is about 63 students.
Full-time vs part-time enrollment comparison.
Retention Rate over Time
59.6%
2024 Retention Rate
Retention rate measures the number of first-time students who began their studies the previous fall and returned to school the following fall.
Retention rate over time compared to similar institutions.
Enrollment by Race & Ethnicity
The largest enrollment share in our College Scorecard extract is White at 62.5%.
Shares are for total enrollment (undergraduate and graduate combined when reported).
College Scorecard student demographics.
Graduates & Outcomes
Time to Complete
49.67% 100% Completion Time
52.94% 150% Completion Time
In 2024, 49.67% of students graduating from Bluffton University completed their program within 100% "normal time".
Completion rates over time compared to similar institutions.
Completions by Sex (Top Programs)
- Education, General: 8% male / 92% female
- Business Administration and Management, General: 62% male / 38% female
- Elementary Education and Teaching: 14% male / 86% female
IPEDS completions by sex for the five largest programs (aggregate CIPs excluded).
Completions by Race & Ethnicity
Combined IPEDS award counts across reported programs; largest group: White.
Summed across program completion records in our extract.
ROI & Programs
Financial value and program information for Bluffton University.
Return on Investment
$27,000 Median Student Debt
$49,547 Median Annual Earnings (10 years)
54.49% Debt-to-Earnings Ratio
521.11% Return on Investment
5.4 years Estimated Payback Period
Financial value analysis for Bluffton University.
Top Programs by Completions
10 largest programs by IPEDS completions (of 29 reported codes; aggregate/unknown CIP buckets excluded).
1. Education, General: 37 completions
2. Business Administration and Management, General: 21 completions
3. Elementary Education and Teaching: 14 completions
4. Sport and Fitness Administration/Management: 14 completions
5. Accounting: 7 completions
6. Special Education and Teaching, General: 6 completions
7. Psychology, General: 6 completions
8. Foods, Nutrition, and Wellness Studies, General: 5 completions
9. Biology/Biological Sciences, General: 5 completions
Most popular programs at Bluffton University.
Employment Outcomes
Employment outcome data is not available for this institution.
Earnings outcomes for Bluffton University graduates.
Operations
Instructional staffing and expenditure indicators for Bluffton University from College Scorecard (not a full IPEDS finance statement).
Instructional Resources
- Full-time faculty share: 51.1%
- Average faculty salary (Scorecard): $5,689
- Instructional expenditure per FTE: $11,125
Endowment and detailed non-instructional staff counts require IPEDS Finance/HR surveys and are not in this extract.
Scorecard instructional metrics where reported.
About
Bluffton University is a private non-profit institution located in Bluffton, OH, classified as Special Focus Four-Year: Faith-Related Institutions. In the latest IPEDS completions in our extract, the largest programs by awards were Education, General, Business Administration and Management, General, Elementary Education and Teaching. Enrollment is approximately 582 students. Student body composition includes White (62.5%), Black or African American (18.9%), Race/ethnicity unknown (9.4%). The admission rate is 67.23%. Average SAT scores for admitted students are 976. The 150%-time completion rate is 52.94%. Approximately 44.68% of students receive Pell Grants. About 32.7% of students are first-generation college students.
Institution Type
Private Non-profit
Carnegie Classification: Special Focus Four-Year: Faith-Related Institutions
Location
Bluffton, OH 45817-2104
Region: Great Lakes
Insights and Analysis
Bluffton University provides educational opportunities for students seeking higher education. Prospective students should carefully evaluate all factors including costs, outcomes, and program offerings when making their enrollment decisions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Bluffton University located?
Bluffton University is located in Bluffton, OH.
What is Bluffton University's acceptance rate?
The acceptance rate at Bluffton University is 67.2% among first-time degree-seeking students reporting admissions data. IPEDS reports 2,873 applicants and 1,757 admits in the latest admissions cycle in our extract.
How much does Bluffton University cost?
Reported tuition is $37,362 and average net price is $19,943 in the latest College Scorecard data. On-campus room and board is estimated at $12,220 annually.
What is the student body demographics at Bluffton University?
Bluffton University reports undergraduate enrollment of about 624 students, White (62.5%), Black or African American (18.9%) in federal College Scorecard data.
How many first-generation students attend Bluffton University?
About 32.7% of students at Bluffton University are first-generation college students.
What test scores do students need for Bluffton University?
Among enrolled students who submitted scores, Bluffton University reports midpoint SAT about 976.
What do graduates of Bluffton University earn?
Median earnings are $41,940 six years after entry and $49,547 ten years after entry.
What is the graduation rate at Bluffton University?
The 150%-time completion rate is 52.9% for the cohort reported to the College Scorecard.
How much debt do Bluffton University students have?
Median federal loan debt among completers is $27,000.
Is Bluffton University public or private?
Bluffton University is a private nonprofit institution located in Bluffton, OH.
Is Bluffton University an HBCU?
No. Bluffton University is not flagged as an HBCU in the IPEDS institutional directory.
Is Bluffton University a tribal college?
No. Bluffton University is not flagged as a tribal college in IPEDS.
Data Sources
This page uses data from the following sources:
- College Scorecard - U.S. Department of Education
- Institutional characteristics, costs, completion rates, and earnings data
- Data years: 2015-2024
- Source: collegescorecard.ed.gov
- Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)
- Employment and wage data by occupation
- Latest data: May 2024
- Source: bls.gov/oes
- O*NET Online - U.S. Department of Labor
- Occupational skills, knowledge, abilities, and work activities
- Database version: 28.0 (August 2023)
- Source: onetcenter.org
- IPEDS (Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System) - National Center for Education Statistics
- Institutional data, completions, enrollment, and financial aid
- Data years: 2015-2024
- Source: nces.ed.gov/ipeds
- Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS)
- Demographic and workforce data
- Latest data: 2023 ACS 5-Year Estimates
- Source: census.gov/acs
- Related geography & profiles
- Ohio college costs
- Ohio colleges by ROI
- Great Lakes regional profile
- All state profiles
- Regional profiles
- National benchmarks
- School directory
- All schools in Ohio
Data Processing: All data has been processed, cleaned, and aggregated for presentation. Where specific data points are unavailable, estimates are based on available data and clearly marked.
Last Updated: Data reflects the most recent available information as of January 2025.
Methodology
Data for this profile is sourced from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard dataset, which provides comprehensive information on institutions of higher education in the United States.
All financial figures are adjusted for inflation and represent the most recent available data. Graduation rates and completion times are calculated according to federal standards.